An Astrologer’s Day” by R. K. Narayan

1. The astrologer conducted his business under the boughs of a/an-

1. banyan tree
2. mango tree
3. tamarind tree
4. oak tree

2. The astrologer’s forehead was resplendent with-

1. sacred ash and vermilion
2. sandalwood paste
3. turmeric powder
4. holy water

3. The power of the astrologer’s eyes was enhanced by-

1. their natural brightness
2. the darkness of his whiskers
3. the sacred ash on his forehead
4. their position between the painted forehead and the dark whiskers

4. The astrologer had left his village-

1. to earn more money
2. without any previous thought or plan
3. to become an astrologer
4. after a fight with his family

5. The name of the man whom the astrologer tried to kill was-

1. Raman
2. Guru Nayak
3. Krishna
4. Shankar

6. The astrologer’s professional equipment did NOT include-

1. a dozen cowrie shells
2. a square piece of cloth
3. a bundle of palmyra writing
4. a crystal ball

7. The astrologer knew no more of what was going to happen to others than he knew what was going to happen to himself-

1. in the next hour
2. the next day
3. in the next minute
4. the next year

8. The astrologer’s success was largely due to-

1. his knowledge of the stars
2. his long practice and shrewd guesswork
3. his prayers
4. his divine power

9. The astrologer charged _______ per question.

1. one anna
2. three pies
3. one rupee
4. five rupees

10. The light in the astrologer’s workplace came from-

1. a petromax light
2. a gas light
3. the shop lights across the road
4. a hurricane lamp

11. The vendor of fried groundnut gave his ware a fancy name each day, calling it-

1. “Bombay Ice-Cream”
2. “Delhi Almond”
3. “Raja’s Delicacy”
4. All of the above

12. The astrologer perceived his client as a-

1. simple villager
2. clever merchant
3. possible client
4. dangerous man

13. Guru Nayak challenged the astrologer, promising to give him _______ if his answers were satisfactory.

1. eight annas
2. one rupee
3. five rupees
4. a dozen annas

14. The astrologer recognised Guru Nayak in the light of-

1. a street lamp
2. a matchstick
3. the moon
4. a flare from the groundnut heap

15. After recognizing the man, the astrologer felt-

1. happy
2. angry
3. very uncomfortable
4. excited

16. The astrologer told Guru Nayak that he was left for dead-

1. in a forest
2. in a well
3. on a river bank
4. in a field near his village

17. Guru Nayak was stabbed with a-

1. sword
2. knife
3. spear
4. dagger

18. A passer-by who peeked into the well was a-

1. merchant
2. farmer
3. shepherd
4. potter

19. The astrologer advised Guru Nayak never to travel-

1. northward
2. eastward
3. westward
4. southward

20. The man who tried to kill Guru Nayak died, according to the astrologer,-

1. in an accident
2. from a disease
3. crushed under a lorry
4. by drowning

21. The astrologer lived in his ancestral home for about how many years before leaving?

1. 10
2. 18
3. 25
4. He was born elsewhere

22. The astrologer’s wife wanted to buy _______ with the money.

1. new clothes
2. jaggery and coconut
3. a new house
4. sweets for the child

23. At the end of the story, the astrologer felt a great load was gone from him because-

1. he earned a lot of money
2. he thought his enemy was dead
3. he believed the man he tried to kill was alive
4. he was tired

24. The place was lit up by-

1. shop lights
2. gaslight
3. flares
4. all of the above

25. What did the astrologer wear on his head?

1. A cap
2. A saffron-coloured turban
3. A helmet
4. Nothing

26. “He was as much a stranger to the stars as were his innocent customers.” This means-

1. He knew more about stars than his customers
2. His customers knew more about stars than him
3. Both he and his customers were ignorant about the stars
4. He was an expert in astrology

27. How much money did the astrologer’s wife count at the end of the day?

1. Ten and a half annas
2. Eleven and a half annas
3. Twelve and a half annas
4. Thirteen and a half annas

28. Guru Nayak flung _______ at the astrologer.

1. a rupee
2. an anna
3. a stone
4. a challenge

29. The astrologer told Guru Nayak his name by-

1. guessing
2. reading his palm
3. using his past knowledge
4. asking him directly

30. The story ‘An Astrologer’s Day’ is set in-

1. Malgudi
2. Madras
3. Bombay
4. Calcutta

31. The astrologer’s appearance created an impression of-

1. wealth
2. poverty
3. wisdom and power
4. humour

32. Why did the astrologer have to leave his village?

1. He had a fight with his parents
2. He committed a crime
3. He wanted to study astrology
4. He was banished

33. Guru Nayak consulted the astrologer to know-

1. about his future
2. when he would get married
3. if he would find the man who tried to kill him
4. about his health

34. The astrologer’s voice was ‘shaken and husky’ when he-

1. started his business
2. saw Guru Nayak
3. talked to his wife
4. counted the money

35. The astrologer lived by his-

1. knowledge
2. wits
3. luck
4. family’s support

36. The colour of the astrologer’s turban was-

1. red
2. blue
3. saffron
4. white

37. The astrologer used to start his work-

1. at sunrise
2. at midday
3. in the evening
4. at midnight

38. The astrologer packed up when-

1. it started raining
2. the police came
3. the groundnut vendor blew out his flare
4. he felt tired

39. “You tried to kill him.” – Here ‘him’ refers to-

1. The astrologer
2. Guru Nayak’s friend
3. The astrologer’s father
4. Guru Nayak

40. The astrologer was a ‘cunning’ person because he-

1. cheated his customers
2. could read minds
3. was very intelligent
4. was a good speaker

41. The astrologer’s eyes were searching for-

1. money
2. customers
3. a place to sit
4. food

42. What was the astrologer’s prediction for Guru Nayak’s death?

1. He would die in his bed
2. He would die in the fortieth year
3. He would live to be a hundred
4. He would die in a foreign land

43. The chief attraction of the marketplace was the-

1. astrologer
2. magician
3. fried groundnut vendor
4. auctioneer of cheap cloth

44. The astrologer thought that the blood of a man was on his hands because-

1. he was a soldier
2. he had killed a man in a brawl
3. he was a murderer by profession
4. he had hit his friend

45. The astrologer’s wife was tempted by the-

1. sight of the money
2. astrologer’s story
3. child’s demand
4. beautiful night

46. The astrologer had to work hard to earn his-

1. reputation
2. wages
3. knowledge
4. respect

47. Guru Nayak was amazed because the astrologer-

1. told him his name
2. described the attack on him
3. told him about the scar
4. All of the above

48. The story suggests that the astrologer was originally a-

1. priest
2. farmer
3. merchant
4. teacher

49. The theme of the story is-

1. fate and destiny
2. crime and punishment
3. irony and coincidence
4. all of the above

50. At the very end, after confessing to his wife, the astrologer-

1. started crying
2. went to the police
3. yawned and stretched himself on the pyol
4. prayed to God

1. He opened his bag and spread out his professional equipment. (Make it a complex sentence)

1. Opening his bag, he spread out his professional equipment.
2. When he opened his bag, he spread out his professional equipment.
3. His bag was opened and his equipment was spread out.
4. He opened his bag to spread out his professional equipment.

2. He had to leave home without telling anyone. He could not rest till he left it behind a couple of hundred miles. (Join into a complex sentence)

1. He could not rest till he left home behind a couple of hundred miles, so he left without telling anyone.
2. As he had to leave home without telling anyone, he could not rest till he left it behind a couple of hundred miles.
3. He left home without telling anyone and could not rest.
4. He left home, not telling anyone, and could not rest.

3. The nuts vendor blew out his flare and rose to go home. This was a signal for the astrologer to pack up. (Join into a complex sentence using a noun clause)

1. When the nuts vendor blew out his flare, it was a signal for the astrologer.
2. The fact that the nuts vendor blew out his flare and rose to go home was a signal for the astrologer.
3. The nuts vendor blew out his flare, which was a signal for the astrologer.
4. The astrologer packed up because the nuts vendor blew out his flare.

4. He shook his head regretfully. He had deserted him. (Join with an adverbial clause)

1. He shook his head regretfully because he had deserted him.
2. Shaking his head, he deserted him.
3. He shook his head and deserted him.
4. He, who had deserted him, shook his head.

5. A man was killed. He thought so. (Join using a noun clause)

1. He thought that a man was killed.
2. He thought about a man being killed.
3. A man who was killed was in his thought.
4. A killed man was thought by him.

6. He opened his bag. (Change the voice)

1. His bag was opened by him.
2. His bag is opened by him.
3. Let his bag be opened.
4. His bag had been opened by him.

7. A passer-by had rescued him. (Change the voice)

1. He was rescued by a passer-by.
2. He had been rescued by a passer-by.
3. A passer-by was rescued by him.
4. He has been rescued by a passer-by.

8. Do you call yourself an astrologer? (Change the voice)

1. Are you called an astrologer by yourself?
2. Is an astrologer called by yourself?
3. Is yourself called an astrologer by you?
4. Let yourself be called an astrologer.

9. He had found his man. (Change the voice)

1. His man had been found by him.
2. His man was found by him.
3. His man has been found by him.
4. His man is found by him.

10. His wife made some sweets. (Change the voice)

1. Some sweets are made by his wife.
2. Some sweets have been made by his wife.
3. Some sweets were being made by his wife.
4. Some sweets were made by his wife.

11. He sat ___ the boughs of a spreading tamarind tree.

1. on
2. in
3. under
4. above

12. He was as much a stranger ___ the stars as were his customers.

1. for
2. of
3. with
4. to

13. A surging crowd was always moving up and down ___ this narrow road.

1. through
2. across
3. on
4. along

14. He looked up ___ his client.

1. to
2. for
3. at
4. on

15. He died four months ago ___ a far-off town.

1. at
2. on
3. in
4. into

16. This was not the least of the enchanting lights. (Change to Positive Degree)

1. Other lights were as enchanting as this.
2. This was more enchanting than other lights.
3. This light was very enchanting.
4. Few other lights were as enchanting as this.

17. No other person is as clever as the astrologer. (Change to Superlative Degree)

1. The astrologer is cleverer than any other person.
2. The astrologer is the cleverest person.
3. Very few persons are as clever as the astrologer.
4. The astrologer is a clever person.

18. He is the wisest man in the village. (Change to Comparative Degree)

1. He is wiser than any other man in the village.
2. No other man in the village is as wise as he.
3. He is a very wise man in the village.
4. Wisdom is his main quality.

19. The astrologer spoke more kindly than usual. (Change to Positive Degree)

1. The astrologer was not usually so kind as he spoke then.
2. The astrologer was usually very kind.
3. The astrologer’s usual speech was kind.
4. The astrologer was the kindest.

20. This is the narrowest road in the town. (Change to Positive Degree)

1. No other road in the town is as narrow as this.
2. This road is narrower than any other road in the town.
3. This road is very narrow.
4. Few roads in the town are as narrow as this.

21. His eyes sparkled with a sharp, abnormal gleam. (Use the adverb form of ‘sharp’)

1. His eyes sharply sparkled with an abnormal gleam.
2. His eyes had a sharpness of abnormal gleam.
3. The gleam of his eyes was sharp and abnormal.
4. His sparkling eyes were sharp.

22. He was a shrewd judge of character. (Use the verb form of ‘judge’)

1. He could judge character shrewdly.
2. His judgement of character was shrewd.
3. Judging character was his shrewdness.
4. He was judgemental about character.

23. The place was lit up by shop lights. (Use the noun form of ‘lit’)

1. The place got its light from shop lights.
2. The place was bright because of shop lights.
3. The lighting of the place was from shop lights.
4. Shop lights were the source of light for the place.

24. He spoke kindly to him. (Use the noun form of ‘kindly’)

1. He spoke to him with kindness.
2. His speech to him was kind.
3. He was kind in his speech to him.
4. His kindness was shown in his speech.

25. He was satisfied. (Use the verb form of ‘satisfied’)

1. Satisfaction was felt by him.
2. The matter satisfied him.
3. He felt a sense of satisfaction.
4. He had satisfaction.

26. (Complex) He saw a dark form. It was his client.

1. He saw a dark form which was his client.
2. Seeing a dark form, he recognized his client.
3. He saw a dark form and it was his client.
4. His client was a dark form.

27. (Voice) The astrologer told him a lie.

1. He was told a lie by the astrologer.
2. A lie was told to him by the astrologer.
3. Both a and b are correct.
4. A lie has been told to him.

28. (Preposition) The stranger thrust his palm ___ his nose.

1. on
2. at
3. under
4. over

29. (Degree) His client was more foolish than he imagined. (Change to Positive)

1. He did not imagine that his client was so foolish.
2. His client was the most foolish.
3. His client was very foolish.
4. No other client was as foolish as he.

30. (Parts of Speech) It was a bewildering crisscross of light rays. (Use the verb form of ‘bewildering’)

1. The crisscross of light rays bewildered people.
2. The crisscross of light was a bewilderment.
3. People were bewildered by the crisscross of light.
4. The light rays bewilderedly crisscrossed.

31. (Complex) He was a simple man. He thought the astrologer was divine.

1. Being a simple man, he thought the astrologer was divine.
2. He, who was a simple man, thought the astrologer was divine.
3. He was a simple man and thought the astrologer was divine.
4. His simplicity made him think the astrologer was divine.

32. (Voice) People crowded to him.

1. He was crowded to by people.
2. He was crowded by people.
3. People were made to crowd to him.
4. This sentence cannot be changed into passive voice.

33. (Preposition) He was angry ___ what the astrologer said.

1. for
2. at
3. with
4. on

34. (Degree) The astrologer gave the most accurate answers. (Change to Comparative)

1. The astrologer gave more accurate answers than any other person.
2. No other person gave as accurate answers as the astrologer.
3. The astrologer gave very accurate answers.
4. The astrologer’s answers were more accurate.

35. (Parts of Speech) He felt a great relief. (Use the verb form of ‘relief’)

1. He was relieved greatly.
2. The feeling relieved him greatly.
3. He relieved himself greatly.
4. He found relief greatly.

36. (Complex) He picked up his cowrie shells and paraphernalia. He was putting them back into his bag.

1. Picking up his cowrie shells and paraphernalia, he was putting them back into his bag.
2. He picked up his cowrie shells and paraphernalia which he was putting back into his bag.
3. He picked up his cowrie shells and paraphernalia and was putting them back into his bag.
4. After picking up his cowrie shells and paraphernalia, he was putting them back.

37. (Voice) A strange light was creeping over the park.

1. The park was being crept over by a strange light.
2. A strange light crept over the park.
3. The park was crept by a strange light.
4. Cannot be changed.

38. (Preposition) He was piqued ___ the stranger’s attitude.

1. with
2. by
3. at
4. for

39. (Degree) It is the best way to get rid of him. (Change to Positive)

1. No other way to get rid of him is as good as this.
2. It is a better way than any other way.
3. It is a very good way to get rid of him.
4. Getting rid of him this way is good.

40. (Parts of Speech) He listened to him in amazement. (Use the adjective form of ‘amazement’)

1. He listened to him, and he was amazed.
2. He was amazing while listening to him.
3. He listened to him with an amazed expression.
4. He amazingly listened to him.